Chapter 1

She released a long, drawn out sigh of relief as she landed on the comfortable and inviting sofa in the sunroom. The house was now settled for the night. The kids were in bed and she was finally at a point where she could add an entry to her journal. She glanced around the quiet room then settled the book onto her lap and began to write.

June 4, 2023:

Well, the wedding is only seventeen days away. My daughter, Peyton, now twenty-one years old, is getting married to a very nice young man. No, wait, he’s not so young – at least not in the way human years are measured. You see, Sabriel is a Pure Vampire from the upper realms. He will be Peyton’s right hand as she carries out the duties of Guardian. He’s the one who will be responsible for opening the portal from which flows the power of the Guardian. She has experienced this part of her life once already. When I no longer carry out the duties of Guardian, she will take over for me, and Sabriel will stand with her. Of course, we both carry out the duties of Guardian at this moment, but her responsibilities will increase with time.

Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday that I was teaching her what it meant to be a Guardian, now she is one. I can’t help but smile as I see her with Sabriel. It took him a while to get the hang of the whole concept of falling in love, and to learn the art of loving another, at least in the sense of human affection. Sabriel had always resided in the upper realms, and he still does, but that is about to change. Once he and Peyton are married they will be living next door to Christopher and myself. My loving husband, who by the way is still a vampire, and a handsome one at that (sorry, there I go again), contracted builders to erect a house just to the west of our own home in order for Peyton and Sabriel to live there. It was revealed to us that our family members should not venture too far from each other. We will all reside in close proximity in order to create a station of sorts where all our powers can be combined. Here will be the outpost of power, a barrier to keep evil from obtaining an upper hand, to keep them from reaching the upper realms. Well, the next big task to be done is the building of a house to the east of The Varatoo Home. This house will go to Adrian, who is now eighteen years old. He is getting at that age where he’ll want to be on his own, but he understands that we all must stick together – it is his destiny after all.

What is everyone doing at this time? Well, Peyton is seeing to the readiness of her new home as well as balancing her work with her duties as Guardian. She is a computer programmer and a webpage designer. It seems that computers are something she has taken to quite readily. Sabriel is learning a new trade as well. He is a building safety inspector. He checks over buildings that are ready to be occupied as well as those that are ready to be demolished. He’s gone on a few runs with Christopher as he has investigated arson cases. It seems that Sabriel has an eye for small details overlooked by the human eye. He’s just like Christopher in that respect. If you ask me, I think it’s the vampire in them. Christopher and Sabriel have become good friends, to Peyton’s great relief. It took a while, but Christopher finally came around. He just wanted to be sure that his daughter was getting the best of what the upper realms had to offer. But that’s the way most fathers are. During the scuffles we’ve all been involved in against the evil ones, Sabriel has proven himself many times. He stays close to Peyton and they work together to create a force to be reckoned with.

Adrian is studying with several Pure Ones who are from the upper realms. It seems that he’s interested in taking on a new position as scholar – a source of knowledge that will link the upper realms to the middle realm. He will amass knowledge from both realms and become a database of information all in one body. This could make him invaluable to Peyton and Sabriel, and all Guardians who come after him. With so much being invested in him, I would say that he will be presented with the gift of immortality one day. Even all that I’ve picked up along the way, all the knowledge that I possess, or at least what I’ve used up to this point, will be known to him for possible future reference.

Reuhial still resides in the upper realms and carries out duties as he is instructed. He is a vital link between those who dwell in the upper realms and those who reside in the middle realm. I guess you could say he’s a go between for several different beings.

Now I come to my two problem children – the twins, who are four years old now. Boy, Christopher asked for it when he wanted more children. Seems to me he should have been a bit more precise in what his expectations were as far as the makeup of these children. Nearly every day he comes to me with some sad tale of how he’s had to ward off some spell that they’ve thrown at him. Those two youngins of mine are something else. But we expected as much when we learned they were to be counted among the ranks of the Principalities – very powerful and headstrong beings from the upper realms. The oldest of the twins is Vukan – he likes to strike Christopher with fire The girl, Iri, likes to test her father with the element of ice. Usually they come at him together, that is, combine their strength and let him have it. But as much as he goes through, I can see mirrored in his eyes the great love he has for them. As he tells me of his latest woes as far as they’re concerned, there is a twinkle of pride in the depths of his gorgeous, gray eyes. To watch him as he romps in the yard with the kids, oh, it’s a wonderful feeling. To my surprise he had small swords forged for them and he has even begun their training. But what else should I have expected? He was after all, a great warrior when he resided in the upper realms, so of course it fits that he’d teach his little ones how to defend themselves right off the bat.

Now, for all the happiness that surrounds me, for all the love that is afforded to me by my family, especially from my husband, I just can’t seem to shake the feeling that something is headed my way…something that will once again test my will, my power of might. I feel that this will be an undertaking that must be met by all members of the Varatoo family. Heaven help us all, for a tempest is blowing in and it will be a typhoon of might that will test all our strength. There’s another thing I sense in this storm…a test of the love and trust that exists between Christopher and myself. Are we strong enough to make it through this power-hungry storm? I can only pray that we are. I wonder what else we must go through, for we have undergone much over the past few hundred years. Has time and love weaved itself into a mighty barrier that even the test of time cannot penetrate? Again, I pray that this is so. Well, I hear Christopher outside and it sounds like he’s talking to someone. I guess I need to be the inquisitive wife and check this out for myself. Until next time….As always-------

Jadyn Rina Varatoo

(God has heard the cry for the vampire)

Just who was Christopher talking to at this time of night? With their life being as it was, and with all the people they knew, it could be one among thousands of people or beings. Once the journal was returned safely to the wooden chest, she headed back to the sunroom then through the back door.

(Continued...)